Buddleja plant named ‘Balchryite’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Buddleja  plant named ‘Balchryite’, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and compact-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Buddleja hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Balchryite’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Buddleja plant botanically known as Buddleja hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balchryite’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Guadalupe, Calif. during June 2016. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Buddleja cultivars having numerous inflorescences with distinctive coloration, repeat blooming, and a highly branched, compact-mounded growth habit.

The new Buddleja cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Buddleja hybrid breeding selection coded BUD-1014, not patented, characterized by its light lavender-blue colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, low growth vigor and compact-mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar the proprietary Buddleja hybrid breeding selection coded 3934-A, not patented, characterized by its creamy-white colored flowers, medium gray-green colored foliage, low growth vigor and compact growth habit. The new cultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during July 2017 in a controlled environment in Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since July 2017 in Guadalupe, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balchryite’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Buddleja plant:

-   -   1. White-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage;     -   3. Low growth vigor: and     -   4. Compact-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent in having white-colored flowers and increased growth vigor. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent in having purer, white-colored flowers, more branches per plant, increased growth vigor and a more mounded growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Buddleja cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Buzz Ivory ‘TOBUD072’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,464. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘TOBUD072’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have purer, white colored flowers         than plants of ‘TOBUD072’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of         ‘TOBUD072’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balchryite’. The plants were approximately five-months old. The plants were grown for approximately 9 weeks in three-quart containers in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinches prior to transplant and one pinch one week after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balchryite’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balchryite’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in July 2021 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately five-month-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in three-quart containers for approximately 9 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinches prior to transplant and one pinch one week after transplant. Prior to transplant plants were grown in liners in a poly-covered greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures ranged from an average high of 79.5° F. (26.4° C.) to an average low of 68.5° F. (20.3° C.), and supplemental lighting was provided daily for five hours during short days. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Buddleja hybrid ‘Balchryite’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Buddleja hybrid breeding             selection coded BUD-1014, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Buddleja hybrid breeding selection             coded 3934-A, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 14 to 20 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 6 to 7             weeks.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 8 to 10 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a one-gallon container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Low growth vigor,             compact-mounded.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5a (−20° F. to −15° F./−28.9° C. to             −26° C.).         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 21.0 cm. Width: Approximately 48.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching enhances lateral             branching. Quantity of branches per plant: Approximately 8             main branches with 2 to 4 laterals on each main branch.         -   Lateral branch.—Shape: Square. Strength: Strong. Length to             base of inflorescence: Approximately 12.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 2.5 cm. Texture of young and mature branches:             Densely pubescent with tomentum. Color of young stems: 146D             with pubescence of NN155B. Color of mature stems: 146D             becoming woody N199A with age, pubescence of NN155B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per branch:             Approximately 8. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite, decussate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Primarily perpendicular to stem. Shape:             Elliptic. Margin: Serrulate. Apex: Broadly acute. Base:             Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 4.0 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 2.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely             pubescent with glands. Texture of lower surface: Densely             pubescent with tomentum. Color of upper surface of young             foliage: 137B with indistinguishable venation. Color of             lower surface of young and mature foliage: 191C with             venation of 147D. Color of upper surface of mature foliage:             137A with indistinguishable venation.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with             tomentum. Color: 147D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balchryite’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions blooming from late spring through             mid-fall.         -   Lastingness of individual flower.—Approximately 5 to 7 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Terminal panicles, each panicle             having about 2 branches. Flowers persistent, facing upward             and outward. Quantity of open inflorescences per plant:             Approximately 28. Fragrance: Slightly sweet. Depth or height             of inflorescence: Approximately 9.0 cm. Width: Approximately             3.5 cm. Quantity of flowers per inflorescence: Approximately             100, opening from base to apex.         -   Rachis.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 8.5 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely             pubescent with tomentum. Color: 146D with pubescence of             NN155B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Single, salverform.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Texture: Glabrous. Color of petals: NN155C.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Rotate, 4 petals arranged in a single whorl.             Depth: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width: Approximately 6.0 mm.         -   Petals.—Shape: Rotund. Margin: Erosulate. Apex: Rounded.             Length from throat: Approximately 2.5 mm. Width:             Approximately 2.5 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first and fully open:             NN155D with 13B at petal base. Color of lower surface when             first and fully open: NN155D.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter of throat opening:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Sparsely             pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Glabrous. Color of             inner surface: 13B with an overlay of N25A. Color of outer             surface: 29C to 29D.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular. Length: Approximately 2.5 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4, fused at base. Apex: Acute.             Margin of free portion: Entire. Length: Approximately             2.5 mm. Width: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface:             Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent with             tomentum. Color of inner surface: 146D. Color of outer             surface: 145A with pubescence of NN155B.         -   Pedicels.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Length: Approximately             1.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely             pubescent with tomentum. Color: 146D with pubescence of             NN155B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: Not             observed. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil             length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft,             two-parted. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma color:             Closest to 145B. Style length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Style             color: Closest to 145D, opaque. Ovary length: Approximately             2.0 mm. Ovary color: Closest to 145B. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Buddleja has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Buddleja plant named ‘Balchryite’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 